Kast: Pardons and security plan 'go down separate paths' amid pressure

President José Antonio Kast asserted on Friday that his government's recently introduced Agenda against Organized Crime and Terrorism (ACOT) is entirely separate from any consideration of pardons for security forces. He stated that these two matters "go down separate paths." This comes amid increasing pressure from lawmakers urging the government to grant clemency to police and military personnel convicted for offenses committed during the 2019 social unrest. A group of 60 deputies sent a letter to the president requesting progress on pardons for carabineros and armed forces members. Concurrently, a "pardon bloc" has been formed in the Senate to advance legislation aimed at releasing these officers. The government's stance seeks to decouple the security initiative from the contentious issue of pardons, which has divided political opinion.